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10 hobbies you can do at home (without breaking the bank)

by Amber Rolfe

Suddenly found yourself with extra time on your hands?

If so, now could be the ideal time to take up a new hobby or revisit a past passion. By choosing the right hobby you could save yourself money, have fun, learn something new and boost your career prospects.

To help you make the most of your free time, we’ve put together a list of 10 great hobbies that you can start today:

Learn a language

Learning a language can be a fun and practical way to boost your career prospects – not to mention enhance your communication skills on your next holiday.

Not sure which language to choose? You might not have to decide on just one. For example, this three-course European Languages bundle allows you to learn the basics of French, German, and Spanish, in just 30 hours.

Alternatively, you could challenge your reliance on speech by learning British Sign Language. An estimated 151,000 people in the UK are using BSL, and a British Sign Language course could give you all the basic skills you need to communicate with them.

Start creative writing

If you’ve got a way with words, creative writing could be the right hobby for you.

As well as being a fun and therapeutic activity, today’s digital world means there are also plenty of career opportunities out there for budding writers.

If you want to keep your options open, consider studying a broad Creative Writing course that covers all kinds of writing styles. Or, if you’re interested in something a bit more niche, a specific area of focus (such as creative writing for children’s books) could be the perfect route for you. Watch out, Roald Dahl.

Take up photography

Almost everyone is capable of snapping a picture on their smartphone and slapping an Instagram filter on it, but it takes real skill to master a DSLR camera.

Whether you already know your way around a lens or you’re a complete novice, there are a range of photography courses (like the Ultimate Photography Bundle) that will give you the skills you need to excel in this timeless industry.

But why stop there? This Adobe Lightroom Photo Editing course will allow you to make your expertly taken photos fit for a postcard, enabling you to master a range of editing techniques – from adjusting exposure, white balance, and flash photos, to editing saturation, silhouettes, and sunsets.

Get a green thumb

Sick of wading through long grass to get to your garden? You should give it some TLC.

Luckily, there are a number of courses that could help. For example, this Garden Maintenance course provides you with everything you need to plan, manage, furnish, and maintain a garden. Already an expert? Take it to the next level by studying a Food Gardening course, and learn how to grow your own fruit, vegetables or herbs.

And let’s face it, there’s nothing better than eating food you’ve grown and hand-picked from your own garden. Mostly because you won’t have to fight anyone for it.

Perfect your cooking

Enjoy cooking? Now’s the time to really nail it.

Whether you’re already a decent chef, your cooking skills could use some work, or you’re looking to specialise in a particular cuisine, there are a number of courses to help you make meals that impress even the fussiest of eaters.

Want to learn how to make great pasta? Study Italian Cooking for Beginners. Looking to create healthier meals? Take a course in it. Ready to embark on your vegan diet, but aren’t sure how to make anything but oven chips? Develop your vegan and vegetarian cooking skills. It’s as simple as that.

Start computer programming

HTML, CSS, JavaScript. What does any of it really mean? That’s what you could finally find out.

Whether you want to use it to build your own website, boost your career prospects, or just impress people at parties, coding is an extremely useful skill. However, it’s not always easy to get to grips with, especially if you’re a beginner.

This Introduction to Coding course is the perfect choice for people who are new to the world of computer programming, as it cuts through the jargon to give you a comprehensive and easy-to-understand overview of a number of coding languages.

Work on your DIY skills

Whether your skills lie in painting walls, you’ve once dabbled in furniture making, or you haven’t touched DIY since the hammer and nail incident of 2012, becoming your very own handyperson could be a great hobby to take up this Spring.

Not sure where to start? This DIY Home Improvement and Maintenance course will teach you how to carry out basic home repairs, allowing you to learn how to use a range of tools that’ll help you keep your home in shape.

And if saving money sounds good to you, why not take up furniture restoration and throw out the need to buy anything new ever again? This Furniture Restoration course will teach you how to bring new life back to old furniture or heirlooms, and you’ll actually enjoy doing it.

Take up creative stitching

If you’re looking for a hobby that’s creative, low-cost and great for your mental wellbeing, creative stitching could be the answer.

By learning to make beautiful pieces of artwork, you can create hand-stitched designs for yourself, your friends and your family. You could even sell them as handmade gifts. That’s Christmas 2020 sorted.

This Creative Stitching course is the perfect way to get started, providing you with knowledge on everything from the basics of stitching and what tools to use, to all kinds of embroidery stitches, techniques, and patterns.

Do some home fitness

Just because the gyms are closed, doesn’t mean you can’t get fit.

Focusing on home fitness can provide a huge range of benefits for your life, boosting both your physical and mental wellbeing. Before you know it, your hobby could turn into a healthy habit, or even a fulfilling career.

So if you want to get healthy, it’s time to hit the weights. This Home Bootcamp course could get you qualified in as little as nine weeks. You could also become a world-class yogi with a Yoga Practitioner Diploma. The possibilities are endless.

Learn floristry

Always felt the urge to arrange every flower display in sight? This hobby is for you.

Whether you do it purely for fun, or you’re looking to start a career in floristry, or even your own business – learning the art of floristry could open up many doors for you. And we’re not just talking about the patio ones.

For example, if you took this Professional Floristry course, you could learn a wide range of floristry skills and techniques – from basic cutting and care, to displays, special occasions, and principles of design. That’s one way to make the neighbours jealous.

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